Why Celebrate the Birthdays of Mahatmas?
Question: If the Soul is immortal, why does Swamiji celebrate his birthday
which belongs to the body?
Swami Sivananda: "I do not celebrate my birthday. It is the devotees who do it. Celebration of such birthdays is equal to worship of Para Brahman. Worship of the Guru is worship of Para Brahman. The devotees take delight in celebrating the birthday, and they are benefited, uplifted. A spiritual wave is created year after year when the birthday is celebrated, and more and more people get a chance of knowing the existence of the Divine Life Society and my teachings. The celebrations of the birthday is an annual reminder to the aspirants of the purpose of their life. It is a fillip to their Sadhana. The pious, receptive attitude prevalent on such an occasion draws forth the grace of the Guru and God upon the devotees. The thoughts of peace, love, devotion, etc., sent out by the innumerable devotees that assemble together to celebrate the birthday go a long way to promote peace, harmony and spiritual well-being in the land.
"It is not without purpose that the Hindus celebrate the birthdays of religious leaders, saints and sages, such as Buddha Jayanti, Sankara Jayanti, Mahavira Jayanti, etc. The Hindu calendar is spotted with many such Jayantis and other holy days, so that the observance of these Jayantis and holy days may give the needed spiritual impetus to people and they may strive with increased zeal for the attainment of the purpose of life, viz., God-realization. The more we have of such special, holy days, the more we have the chance of being inspired to intensify our spiritual progress." (pg. 44, May I Answer That?)
Swami Krishnananda: "The
incarnations of God are supposed to come with a power of divinity,
whereas the sages and saints are supposed to go with the power
of divinity. As the one comes with Divine force, the other goes
with that Divine force. This is why we lay much importance on
the birthdays of Incarnations and the Mahasamadhi days of Siddhas
and Masters. Such a holy occasion we observe every year on the
Punyatithi Aradhana Mahotsava of revered Sri Swami Sivanandaji
Maharaj." (Chap. 9, Spiritual Import of Religious Festivals: Message given on the 3rd of August, 1972, the Ninth Punyatithi-Aradhana of H.H. Sri Swami Sivanandaji Maharaj)
Mata Amirtanandamayi: "...When we celebrate the birthdays of great souls like Christ, Krishna..., there is one prayer that we should never forget to recite, 'Please bless us to realize the eternal ‘I’ in me.' This prayer should be part and parcel of our spiritual life. Amma doesn’t want Her children to forget this prayer when they celebrate (them).” (24 December 2007 — Amritapuri: http://www.amritapuri.org/859/eternal.aum)
Swami Sivananda: "I do not celebrate my birthday. It is the devotees who do it. Celebration of such birthdays is equal to worship of Para Brahman. Worship of the Guru is worship of Para Brahman. The devotees take delight in celebrating the birthday, and they are benefited, uplifted. A spiritual wave is created year after year when the birthday is celebrated, and more and more people get a chance of knowing the existence of the Divine Life Society and my teachings. The celebrations of the birthday is an annual reminder to the aspirants of the purpose of their life. It is a fillip to their Sadhana. The pious, receptive attitude prevalent on such an occasion draws forth the grace of the Guru and God upon the devotees. The thoughts of peace, love, devotion, etc., sent out by the innumerable devotees that assemble together to celebrate the birthday go a long way to promote peace, harmony and spiritual well-being in the land.
"It is not without purpose that the Hindus celebrate the birthdays of religious leaders, saints and sages, such as Buddha Jayanti, Sankara Jayanti, Mahavira Jayanti, etc. The Hindu calendar is spotted with many such Jayantis and other holy days, so that the observance of these Jayantis and holy days may give the needed spiritual impetus to people and they may strive with increased zeal for the attainment of the purpose of life, viz., God-realization. The more we have of such special, holy days, the more we have the chance of being inspired to intensify our spiritual progress." (pg. 44, May I Answer That?)
Mata Amirtanandamayi: "...When we celebrate the birthdays of great souls like Christ, Krishna..., there is one prayer that we should never forget to recite, 'Please bless us to realize the eternal ‘I’ in me.' This prayer should be part and parcel of our spiritual life. Amma doesn’t want Her children to forget this prayer when they celebrate (them).” (24 December 2007 — Amritapuri: http://www.amritapuri.org/859/eternal.aum)
Mata Amirtanandamayi: "Mother is happy to see her children happy, and happily undertaking service activities on the occasion of Her birthday. Mother gets no speacial joy beyond that from these celebrations. She has agreed to all these only to see the happiness of Her children. Children, what makes Amma truly happy is seeing you love one another and being compassionate to others. Amma is happier to see you clean a nearby dirty sewer than to see you wash Her feet and worship them... What makes Mother truly happy is when Her children consider Her birthday as the day for wiping the tears of those who are suffering." (Birthday Message [1990], pg. 11, Lead Us to Light, Vol.2)
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